The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 36 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, Aug. 21.
Today’s cases are two visitors and 34 residents. Of the 36 cases, eight are children and 28 are adults. Eight of the cases are related to travel – four mainland and four interisland. The remaining 28 cases are considered community-acquired. Fourteen of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of previously announced cases or are tied to one of the active clusters. The remaining 14 community-acquired cases have no known source of infection. Additionally, the Department of Health has identified a new cluster associated with a social gathering.
“As we see growing numbers of community-acquired infections, it is clear that the virus is circulating more and more widely throughout our island,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer. “We each have a role to play in slowing this spread. We need to avoid large gatherings as much as possible—whether indoors or outdoors. We need to wear well-fitting masks over our nose and mouth whenever we are around people from outside our household, especially indoors. We need to stay home—and get tested—if we feel sick. And of course, those who are eligible and have not yet been vaccinated should get vaccinated. If you have questions about vaccines, you can submit them to ‘Ask Dr. B’ on the County’s Facebook page.”
All active cases are in isolation, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing, and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 218, with three hospitalized, and 1,075 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 1021 confirmed locally, eight probable, and 46 positive cases diagnosed elsewhere, as they received their pre-travel test results after arriving on island.
DOH contact tracing and more info:
Daily case counts continue to rise rapidly, despite the Department of Health’s efforts to perform comprehensive case investigation and contact tracing. If you test positive, please don’t wait to hear from the Department of Health before taking action: isolate yourself at home, and let those you’ve been in contact with know that they’ve been exposed. Your close contacts should quarantine and plan to be tested. Your prompt action makes a difference.
If you have symptoms or are feeling sick, you should isolate yourself immediately, stay away from household members, and not go out – including to work or school – unless you are seeking testing or getting health care. Those who have been vaccinated should still be tested if they believe they may have been exposed or if they feel sick.
Many cases are in residents who have traveled. If you plan a trip, please be vaccinated before you go. And whether or not you are vaccinated, follow Hawai‘i’s prudent rules and wear a mask in crowded indoor settings. Finally, please get tested 3 to 5 days after you return to Kaua‘i.
Vaccine info:
Vaccination is free and widely available on the island, including on weekends and evenings and pop-up vaccination opportunities at community sites. Many vaccination sites accept walk-ins. Residents aged 18 and older are eligible for any vaccine available at pharmacy, hospital, and clinic locations. The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for use in those 12 years of age and older, and are currently available at Wilcox Medical Center, Līhu‘e Longs, and Līhu‘e Safeway. For details on the vaccination sites, visit www.kauai.gov/vaccine.
Testing info:
Free testing is available at the Convention Hall, weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, a free mobile testing van is available for walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center on Wednesdays, Kīlauea Neighborhood Center on Thursdays, Kalāheo Neighborhood Center on Fridays, Hanalei Neighborhood Center on Saturdays, and Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center on Sundays. Testing performed at the Convention Hall and through the mobile testing van is rapid PCR. Same-day results are sent via email.
Free drive-thru testing is also available daily at Līhu‘e Pharmacy Group, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are highly recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. For an appointment, register online at PreventCOVIDHI.com or call (808) 635-4968. Līhu‘e Pharmacy offers PCR mid-turbinate testing. Results are expected to be provided the same day via email.
Testing is also available through your primary care physician, a hospital, or an urgent care clinic. Please contact those providers directly for more information. For more details, visit https://www.kauai.gov/covidtest.
For more information on the county’s COVID-19 response, visit www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.